Surround for horizontal cemetery grave marker tablets



March 26, 1963 DAVls 3,082,559

SURROUND FOR HORIZONTAL CEMETERY GRAVE MARKER TABLETS Filed Feb. 5, 1962 INVENTOR.

lax/mo! United States Patent r 3,082,559 SURROUND FGR HORIZONTAL CEMETERY GRAVE MARKER TABLETS Glenn B. Davis, 1474 Parrott Drive, San Mateo, Calif. Filed Feb. 5, 1962, Ser. No. 170,936 3 Claims. (Cl. 40124.5)

This invention concerns surrounds for horizontal type memorial cemetery grave marker tablets.

Horizontal grave marker tablets have to a large extent replaced upright vertical or large grave markers for use in cemeteries. These markers are for the most part made of cast bronze and are set into the earth within the perimeter of the grave horizontally -so that they are approximately level with the grass which covers the cemetery grounds. When they are properly levelled and the grass is properly tended, the horizontal type marker is very ornamental and in the aggregate produces a higher grade cemetery than where vertical grave markers of various kinds are used.

It has been found, however, that as the grass is cut it forms a mat which builds up and in time tends to obscure the contours of the flat marker. After a time the marker, together with its base, must be removed and rebedded at a higher level in order to be visible.

Another condition which degrades the common horizontal bronze marker is that the grass which grows up above the level of its upper face tends to obscure por-. tions of the marker which collects cut grass, dirt and the like, and this, in turn, prevents adequate drainage of rain water and sprinkling water so that the marker tends to be submerged at times and for this reason rapid cor rosion sometimes takes place.

In view of the foregoing one of the objects of the invention is to provide a surround for the flat type tablet markers heretofore used, which will protect the edges of the bronze marker plate, and which will provide adequate drainage and also protect the marker plate from damage by mowers or power machinery used in tending the cemetery grounds.

Another object is to provide a rectangular shaped surround which will form a border for the bronze marker so that the edges of the marker are protected and so that the edges of the surround are raised and adequately protccted from the mower and at the same time shaped so that the grass over the edges cannot intrude on the exposed upper surface of the marker plate.

Still another object is to provide a rectangular surround, as above stated, which has open mitered joints at the corners which will provide adequate drainage but at the same time will not interfere with the contour out line of the surround.

Still another object is to provide a surround made of composition which is hard and resilient and will protect the metal of the marker plate but is easy and cheap to make and place in position around the marker.

another object is to provide a moulded surround whi h an be a in p a eit r o r i gr l w t e mark plat or s pa at f m tha ll p m a equate drainage for the surface of the marker plate and provide an edge which will discourage the rapid growth of grass around the marker plate.

Other objects will appear hereinafter,

I a in he for going objects by m ans of h d i s pa t and com ina ion of p rts. sho n in the accompanying drawing, w e ein- FIGURE 1 is a P an view of a ma ker p a p i ed with a s rround embodyi g my improvement FIGURE 2 is a sid lev tional view th reof;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view thereof taken substantially on line 3-3 of FIGURE 1;

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EIGURE 4 is a sectional side view of the surround only;

FIGURE 5 is a section taken substantially on line 5-5 of FIGURE 4, and shows the surround in inverted position when it is being formed;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of a corner portion of a marker and surround as set into the surround and drawn on an enlarged scale; and

FIGURE 7 is a section of a modified form of surround structure and base as applied to a marker tablet.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts in the several views.

Referring to FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, the marker is indicated by numeral 2. The base to which it is attached, and which is made of poured concrete, is indicated by numeral 3. This base sets into the ground 4 in the usual manner and the weight of the base keeps the marker in place. Note that the marker, which is usually made of cast bronze, is held to the base 3 by leg screws 5 which are usually set into the concrete at the time it is cast.

It is to be understood that in installing these markers the bronze top part, marked 2, is first prepared with the necessary indicia cast or moulded on its face. This is then inverted and a frame (not shown) is built around its edges. The area enclosed by the frame is then filled with concrete which forms the base 3. A marker thus prepared is then set into the ground 4 in the proper place on the surfiace of the grave.

The improvement here concerned consists of adding the surround, indicated generally by numeral 8.

This surround is composed of four parts, 10, 10a, ltlb and 100. These four parts constitute a frame that looks somewhat like a picture frame and has mitered joints 12 at each corner. These joints include the adjacent abutting angular edges of the surround parts 10, 10a, 10b and 100, respectively.

These parts are made of a composition, preferably including sand and wood sawdust, or its equivalent with a plastic type resin used as a binder. This composition is moulded into the shape shown, which has a section shown best in FIGURES 3, Sand 6.

In this respect note that the outer face 14 of the surround is substantially vertical and extends from below ground level along a line marked 15 to the plane of lip 16, a substantial distance above ground level. Along the outer edges of the composite surround there is a rounded raised perimeter rim, marked 17. From the raised rim 17 the upper surface of the surround is curved downward and at 18 extends inwardly to form a flat surface 29. This surface terminates along a vertical edge 21. Edge 21 then is joined to a comparatively flat under surface area 22 which extends outward from edge 21 and curves into a substantially vertically faced area 23. This area surface is joined to a flat horizontal surface marked 24 which in turn is joined to the outer vertical surface 14),.

The above description is intended to include the C911? tours of a typical section of one of the surround parts. It is to be understood that the sections throughout all parts are substantially the same. As a result the surround is provided with a raised rim 17 to protect the inner per tioii from a mower or other implement used to cut grass, It also has a fiat outer perimeter 14, which in the aggregate f ms a u st nt ly e t c l a nd hi h w l d scourage the growth of grass over the rim 17. It then has an area 20 which extends from the rim 17 to the inner ed e 2 Th s also is, in u n. a utted gai st th o t r edge 6 of the marker plate. This inner shelf, thus pro vided, forms an area which will separate the outer edge 14 where the grass is growing in the ground 4 from the edge 6 around the perimeter of the marker plate 2,

In constructing the surround the four parts are set in place in inverted position, as shown in FIGURES 4 and 5. Concrete, marked 39, is then poured into the area confined by the form plates 31. Bolts 32 are set into the back faces of the surround parts 1%), etc., at convenient positions to form means of attachment for the .concrete 3G. Spacers (not shown) are set into the mitered joints 12 so that each of the surround parts It will be separated from the adjacent part, to form drain channels. After casting and turning the casting right side up the surround has the appearance as indicated in FIG- URE 1. It is then taken to the cemetery and placed around the marker plate, and is set into the earth so that the edge 16 is somewhat above the level of the grass A that surrounds the marker.

A surround constructed as above described and made of the material above specified, or its equivalent, provides the protection desired and becomes a permanent part of the marker plate.

Optionally, the plate 2 may be inverted and filled with the concrete forming the base 3, at the same time the surround parts It etc., are set into the base and the entire bottom portion of the composite marker and surround filled With concrete at one time. This makes it possible for the bronze marker plate to be produced with a surround of concrete composition as a unit.

A further modification is shown in FIGURE 7. Here the section shows that the rim 17 has been eliminated and in its place a rounded outer perimeter edge 36 joins the perimeter of vertical face 14 to the horizontal upper face 38 of each surround part. Faces 33 are raised above grass A as desired.

Optionally, the surround parts 10, 16a, 163b, and 100 may be cast as a unit and when inverted the base 3 poured as a solid block as shown in FIGURE 7.

In all cases, as the soil is built up on the surface of the grounds both the marker and surround are raised and earth tamped underneath the lower surface of the bases.

A cemetery consisting of bronze markers with built-up surrounds, as here disclosed, will provide a more beautiful and lasting construction and has a more dignified 4 and pleasing efiect throughout the many years through which it will be used.

I claim:

1. A surround for horizontal cemetery grave marker tablets comprising an ornamental upper part composed of perimeter pieces of resin bonded sand and wood particles having inner edges following the outer edge contour of the grave marker and a substantially vertical outer edge, and adjoining ends in close position but separated to provide drainage channels, and an under part of concrete bedding and positioning the upper part pieces and forming a base for the surround.

2. A surround for horizontal cemetery grave marker tablets comprising an ornamental upper part composed of perimeter pieces of resin bonded sand and wood-particles having inner edges following the outer edge contour of the grave marker and a substantially vertical outer edge terminating upwardly in a raised outer edge rim adjoining an inwardly flat inner area extending to the inner 1 edge, and adjoining ends set at an angle relative to the inner andtouter edges of each piece so that adjacent end edges simulate mitered joints but are spaced so as to provide drain channels.

3. A surround for horizontal cemetery grave marker tablets comprising an ornamental upper part composed of perimeter pieces of resin bonded and silicious particles and organic filler particles and having inner edges following the outer edge contour of the grave marker and a substantially vertical outer edge, and adjoining ends in close position but separated to provide drainage channels, and an under part of concrete bedding and positioning the upper part pieces and forming a base for the surround; said surround having its inner edges fitting closely around the outer perimeter of said grave marker.

References Cited in the filetof this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. A SURROUND FOR HORIZONTAL CEMENTRY GRAVE MARKER TABLETS COMPRISING AN ORNAMENTAL UPPER PART COMPOSED OF PERIMETER PIECES OF RESIN BONDED SAND AND WOOD PARTICLES HAVING INNER EDGES FOLLOWING THE OUTER EDGE CONTOUR OF THE GRAVE MARKER AND A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL OUTER EDGE, AND ADJOINING ENDS IN CLOSE POSITION BUT SEPARATED TO PROVIDE DRAINAGE CHANNELS, AND AN UNDER PART OF CONCRETE BEDDING AND POSITIONING THE UPPER PART PIECES AND FORMING A BASE FOR THE SURROUND. 